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P. 46
There is no day that goes by without a fight between me and my parents,
pointing fingers at each other for my condition. Worse still, my younger sister
aged 8, is forced to witness such traumatising quarrels. The reason I am
mailing you this is because I‘ve noticed that I‘m not alone on this boat. Several
families seem to face this trouble.
I know a family where the daughter keeps running away from home every now
and then. They bring her home with the help of the police and through
influential contacts. She has attempted suicide at least seven times in five
years. Another boy left his home as a result of physical abuses and hasn‘t
returned since. I can go on citing examples. Our parents are pushing us into
shells, forcing us to covet the undesirable and demotivating us. A few words
that I would like to tell parents:
Talk to us. Explain to us your expectations. We will not disappoint you. We
will maintain our limits. Don‘t force your decisions or opinions on us. Give us
the freedom of choice. Do not judge me by what my friends do because I am
different; I‘m unique. You may not see my talent, but given a chance I could
change the world with it. Let us face the world on our own since there is no
better teacher than experiences of life. Guide us, be our friends, share your
problems with us. We may not provide you solutions but we will surely listen
and understand. Each one of us is a life on earth, to be nurtured and cared for.
In your zeal to protect us, you smother us in a cocoon.
We love you, mom and dad. Do not make us hate you. We know whatever you
do is for our best, but ask yourself honestly whether or not it really is the best
for us.
-Radhika
M y mom has gone through bipolar disorder but I was very little then and
could not help her. At that age, I was scared to even look at her, but I never let
the fear come on my face whenever I talked to her. She is a superwoman—she
always wanted to be there for her children. She fought her illness and now she
is absolutely fine and healthy.
-Abhay
43
pointing fingers at each other for my condition. Worse still, my younger sister
aged 8, is forced to witness such traumatising quarrels. The reason I am
mailing you this is because I‘ve noticed that I‘m not alone on this boat. Several
families seem to face this trouble.
I know a family where the daughter keeps running away from home every now
and then. They bring her home with the help of the police and through
influential contacts. She has attempted suicide at least seven times in five
years. Another boy left his home as a result of physical abuses and hasn‘t
returned since. I can go on citing examples. Our parents are pushing us into
shells, forcing us to covet the undesirable and demotivating us. A few words
that I would like to tell parents:
Talk to us. Explain to us your expectations. We will not disappoint you. We
will maintain our limits. Don‘t force your decisions or opinions on us. Give us
the freedom of choice. Do not judge me by what my friends do because I am
different; I‘m unique. You may not see my talent, but given a chance I could
change the world with it. Let us face the world on our own since there is no
better teacher than experiences of life. Guide us, be our friends, share your
problems with us. We may not provide you solutions but we will surely listen
and understand. Each one of us is a life on earth, to be nurtured and cared for.
In your zeal to protect us, you smother us in a cocoon.
We love you, mom and dad. Do not make us hate you. We know whatever you
do is for our best, but ask yourself honestly whether or not it really is the best
for us.
-Radhika
M y mom has gone through bipolar disorder but I was very little then and
could not help her. At that age, I was scared to even look at her, but I never let
the fear come on my face whenever I talked to her. She is a superwoman—she
always wanted to be there for her children. She fought her illness and now she
is absolutely fine and healthy.
-Abhay
43
